Category: College sports

College Sports Roundup: Big Ten media days begin and Harbaugh’s potential suspension

Big Ten media days got underway on Wednesday, Jim Harbaugh is facing a likely suspension, Mike Elko received an extension and more from the College Wires.

The Big Ten’s first day of media days got underway on Wednesday morning as the conference prepares for this upcoming season.

It will be an eventful two days of media day both from an on and off-the-field perspective.

On the field, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State look like potential College Football Playoff contenders this fall. In contrast, schools like Wisconsin and Michigan State are looking for bounce-back seasons after struggling in 2022.

Off the field, Northwestern’s David Braun will speak for the first time since becoming the interim head coach of the Wildcats following Pat Fitzgerald’s firing. Additionally, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is likely facing a four-game suspension for this upcoming season; we’ll have more below.

While the Big Ten does not have an official media poll, Cleveland.com has conducted its own for the last 13 years. The poll takes votes from 37 writers, with at least one beat writer for each program.

The poll results show that Michigan is the overwhelming favorite to win the Big Ten East and the Big Ten championship for a third straight season.

The Wolverines earned 27 first-place votes in the East division in the poll. Ohio State received eight, and Penn State received two. Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Indiana rounded out the Big Ten East projected standings.

In the West, Wisconsin totaled 20 first-place votes, Iowa earned 16 from writers, while Minnesota was the only other Big Ten West school to nab a first-place vote. Those three schools would finish first, second, and third in the projected standings, with Illinois, Nebraska, Purdue, and Northwestern filling out the rest of the division.

College Sports Roundup: Miami and Louisville to play for ‘The Schnellenberger’, College Gameday update

There is a new trophy game in college football, College Gameday’s week one location has been revealed, and more from the College Wires.

The Louisville Cardinals and Miami Hurricanes’ future matchups against each other have a little bit more meaning to them in the future.

On Monday, it was announced that the two ACC programs will now be a trophy game with “The Schellenberger Trophy” on the line for each matchup.

The trophy features a bronze version of Schellenberger’s famous cowboy boots.

Howard Schellenberger coached at Miami, Louisville, Oklahoma, and FAU over his head coaching career, but his best years came with the Hurricanes and Cardinals.

Schellenberger coached at Miami from 1979 through 1983, where he went 41-16 over five seasons and led the program to a national championship in 1983. Following the 1983 season, Schellenberger looked to join the USFL’s “The Spirit of Miami” as their general manager, head coach, part-owner, and president. He would resign just a few months into the job after the USFL shifted its schedule from the spring to the fall. However, by then, Jimmy Johnson was already named the next head coach at Miami.

After taking off the 1984 season, Schellenberger would take over the Louisville Cardinals program in 1985.  The Cardinals had just two winning seasons in the ten years before he took over the program. It wouldn’t be a smooth operation for Schellenberger with the Cardinals; he would win just eight combined games in his first three seasons.

The Cardinals would win eight games alone in 1988 before going 6-5 in 1999. His best season with the program came in 1990, leading the Cardinals to a 10-1 record and a Fiest Bowl victory over Alabama; the Cardinals would finish 14th in the country that season, their best final ranking to that point in program history.

He stayed at Louisville until 1994, when he was hired to replace Gary Gibbs at Oklahoma, but resigned after one season in which he went 5-5-1. He would return to coaching in 2001 with Florida Atlantic, helping the school build its football program from scratch and make the transition from FCS to FBS. He would stay with the Owls until 2011.

While Schellenberg is not in the college football hall of fame, mainly due to his 158-151-3 record (coaches must have at least a .600 winning percentage), very few head coaches have had impacts like Schellenberger.

College Sports Roundup: Caleb Williams frustrated by USC’s narrow playoff miss, SEC preseason poll and All-SEC teams

Caleb Williams’ near misses at the CFP are eating at him, the SEC released its media poll and All-SEC selections on Friday, and more

Last year, Caleb Williams and the USC Trojans were just one win away from the College Football Playoffs.

All the Trojans would have to do to earn their first trip to the College Football Playoffs was beat the Utah Utes in the Pac-12 Championship Game, who narrowly defeated the Trojans earlier in the season 43-42.

For USC, it looked like they were well on their way, up 14-3 after the first 15 minutes of play. However, Utah would outscore the Trojans in the second and third quarters 21-3 to take a 24-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter. In the final stanza, the game got entirely away from USC as Utah scored 23 fourth-quarter points to pull away and win 47-24.

USC would go on to play Tulane in the Cotton Bowl, losing 46-45.

For USC quarterback Caleb Williams, it marked the second year that the Heisman Trophy winner looked poised to make it to college football’s biggest stage but ultimately came up short.

“It bothers me because I play for championships. I don’t play for anything else. So not being able to have the chance and being so close frustrates me,” Williams said in an interview with ESPN. The potential first-overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft says he’s “very determined” to get there this fall.

The Trojans will start their quest for a College Football Playoff berth on August 26 against the San Jose State Spartans. The Trojans should be able to start the season 6-0 with games against San Jose State, Nevada, Stanford, Arizona State, Colorado, and Arizona. Their schedule will get much more challenging in the second half of their season with matchups that include Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, and Oregon.

College Sports Roundup: Pac-12 media day begin, Ole Miss incorporates mental health training, and more from the College Wires

The Pac-12 media days begin on Friday, Ole Miss has incorporated mental health training into their offseason regimen, and more from the College Wires.

The Pac-12 football media day will begin Friday at 8:00 a.m. PT with commissioner George Kliavkoff before each of the conference’s 12 teams and their representatives take the podium and talk to the media.

As previously covered here on College Sports Wire, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders will not be in attendance for the media day after undergoing successful surgery on Thursday to fix blood clot issues.

The Pac-12 media recently voted for USC to win the Pac-12 title this fall in their last year in the conference.

The Trojans received 25 of 36 total votes. Washington finished second with four first-place votes, Utah had six first-place votes while being in third place, and Oregon earned one first-place vote while finishing fourth.

Oregon State, UCLA, Washington State, Arizona, California, Arizona State, Colorado, and Stanford rounded out the preseason poll.

The Pac-12 is set to enter an important year that will decide its future as the conference continues to look to finalize its next media rights deal. That process will turn a year old next month.

Additionally, the 2023-2024 athletic calendar will be the last in which USC and UCLA are a part of the conference; both will leave on July 1, 2024, for the Big Ten.

Here are the rest of the top stories from around the country and the College Wires.

College Sports Roundup: Senators working on NIL bill, CAA name change, and more from the College Wires

A trio of U.S. Senators have started working on a bipartisan NIL bill, the CAA has undergone a name change, and more from the College Wires.

With coaches around the country calling for more rules and regulations when it comes to Name, Image, and Likeness, three U.S Senators are deep in discussion in the creation of a new bill that would address NIL issues. 

The bipartisan bill is being put together by senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Cory Booker, D-N.J.

According to a report from Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY, the bill would create a new entity called the “College Athletics Corporation.” This corporation would have the power to regulate college athletics regarding NIL and other issues and the ability to conduct investigations and subpoena powers.

The corporation will also create a public database that will include mandatory data that would have to be provided by schools, which would consist of “the number, average and total value of athlete endorsement contracts, all broken down by sport, race and ethnicity, and gender.”

The bill would not only cover NIL issues but more as well. It will also include medical trust funds for athletes who suffer injuries while playing and four years after their collegiate careers end. Those athletes who suffer “significant long-term conditions related to their participation in college athletics” would also be covered.

It would also require athletic trainers and team physicians to be “independent from the athletic department” and have the ultimate say over return-to-play decisions. “Third parties” would be allowed to give athletes “reasonable” food, rent, medical expenses, insurance, and transportation for either themselves, friends, or family members when they are experiencing a “physical or mental health concern,” but also participating in an athletic event as well.

Another significant note from the bill would be college athletes being able to return to college sports even after going through a professional draft as long as they don’t take money from the league, a team, or an agent. Athletes would have up to seven days after the conclusion of their draft to announce their intention to resume their collegiate careers.

You can read more about the potential bill in Berkowitz’s report on USA TODAY. Here are some of the other major news stories from the college sports world and the College Wires.

Marvin Harrison Jr, Brock Bowers, Angel Reese among first class of The Rock’s NIL partnership

“I’m pumped to be a part of such a unique group of athletes, and who better than The Rock to bring us together for a one-of-a-kind opportunity.”

Former professional wrestler turned entrepreneur, actor, father, and more decided to delve into the world of name, image, and likeness. Dwayne, The Rock, Johnson’s company ZOA Energy announced the inaugural class of The Rock’s Warriors.

The inaugural group includes Angel Reese (basketball, Louisiana State University), Hansel Emmanuel (basketball, Austin Peay State University), Brock Bowers (football, University of Georgia), Marvin Harrison Jr. (football, Ohio State University), Drake Maye (football, University of North Carolina), Kam Kinchens (football, University of Miami) and Amaya Gainer (softball, Florida A&M).

“Through this first-of-its-kind NIL expansion program, ZOA Energy will bring together some of the greatest college athletes of our time. I know from experience the grit and hard work that’s required of these college athletes to get the job done. Not just during their championship games or in the classrooms, but every day in the game of life. ZOA gives people that power, that unique energy to fuel themselves and fuel others around them – that’s why I’m super pumped about uniting all of The Rock’s Warriors under one roof,” said ZOA co-Founder and Chief Energy Officer, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. “I personally selected these phenomenal individuals because of the energy, tenacity, and excitement they bring to the game. With a diverse set of stories and experiences, they’re driven, hungry, talented, and ready for ZOA to help fuel them to greatness.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu4QaOqu2Je/

According to ZOA’s press release, the athletes will lead an upcoming marketing campaign for the brand and create content across social media platforms while also supporting national and regional retail partnerships and philanthropic events across the country on behalf of ZOA.

“I’m pumped to be a part of such a unique group of athletes, and who better than The Rock to bring us together for a one-of-a-kind opportunity,” said Angel Reese, women’s basketball player and reigning National Champion at Louisiana State University. “ZOA is all about putting in the work, learning from your wins and losses, and empowering others, something I strive to do every day on and off the court, so it was a no-brainer to join the first class of The Rock’s Warriors.”

More athlete-entrepreneurs should look into providing mentorship and brand partnerships with college and professional athletes. These athlete-entrepreneurs have a unique lens through which they view the world at large and the ecosystem of sport.

“While money certainly talks, the ability to engage with someone like Johnson–who has been successful as an athlete, actor and now entrepreneur–speaks louder. Other athlete-led companies should consider how they can authentically leverage the brain power and lived experiences of their leadership to facilitate meaningful NIL deals,” shared Alicia Jessop, a sports industry leader, attorney, journalist, and professor focused on promoting athlete, creator, and consumer well-being and women’s leadership in the sport and entertainment industries.

College Sports Roundup: San Diego State staying in the MWC, Pac-12 media deal still not ready, and more from the College Wires

San Diego State’s future in the MWC has been decided, the Pac-12’s media deal is still not ready, and more from the College Wires.

San Diego State is staying in the Mountain West Conference. On Tuesday, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported, “The Mountain West has informed San Diego State that the school will remain a member.”

The report comes a few weeks after San Diego State looked to stay in the Mountain West Conference after their potential move to the Pac-12 did not come to fruition due to the Pac-12’s ongoing media rights deal not being ready by July 1.

The school initially asked for a one-month extension of its official departure and exit fee payment due to “unforeseen delays involving other collegiate athletic conferences.” The Mountain West Conference denied that request, and the university eventually chose to return to the conference on June 30.

That being said, it was not an automatic yes from the Mountain West Conference to accept San Diego State back to the conference. Leading to uncertainty for the university regarding its future after the 2023-2024 collegiate athletic year.

Additionally, on July 7, it was reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune that the conference was withholding a $6.6 million distribution payment that was owed to the university as the conference was determining the university’s status.

Per Dellenger, San Diego State will also be responsible for covering fees for the conference’s legal work that was needed over the last several weeks.

Beyond San Diego State’s future being decided, other major stories include the latest update on the Pac-12’s media deal, an amateur sumo champion joining an FBS program, and more from the College Wires.

College Sports Roundup: Northwestern sees more fallout, Venables takes a shot at Deion, and more from the College Wires

Northwestern continues to see fallout from their hazing scandal, Brent Venables took a shot at Deion Sanders, and more from the College Wires.

The repercussions of the recent hazing scandal regarding the Northwestern football program continue to flow in for the university and the program.

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired last week, and the university has tabbed defensive coordinator Dave Braun to lead the program until further notice. That being said, on Tuesday, a former Northwestern football player who has chosen to keep his anonymity has filed a lawsuit against Pat Fitzgerald and the school’s leadership, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Here’s an excerpt from the report from the Associated Press.

“The player, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Tuesday in the Cook County Court in Chicago that Fitzgerald, Northwestern University President Michael Schill, the board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg enabled and concealed sexual misconduct and racial discrimination.”

The only details regarding the player are that they were a member of the Wildcats football program from 2018 through 2022.

Additionally, the Associated Press has recently reported that eight former Northwestern football players have retained attorneys following the scandal. 

On top of the lawsuit, the program saw its first departure following the scandal as freshman linebacker Nigel Glover, a member of the program’s 2023 recruiting class, entered the transfer portal. Glover was regarded as a four-star recruit by On3, 247Sports, and ESPN.

Glover originally chose Northwestern over Boston College, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Washington, and West Virginia.

Now, here is more from around college athletics and the College Wires.

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College Sports Roundup: SEC Media Days, Tennessee wins vacated, and more from the College Wires

The SEC Media Days get underway on Monday, Tennessee was forced to vacate wins from the Jeremy Pruitt era and more from the College Wires.

After the Big 12 got the college football media day started last week and this week, with the SEC’s media days from Monday through Thursday.

The SEC will feature three programs on Monday and Thursday, while Tuesday and Wednesday will feature four programs each.

On Monday, LSU, Missouri, and Texas A&M will take to the podium before Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt are in the spotlight on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Kentucky will get opportunities to talk and answer questions, while Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee will wrap up the week.

Notably, this year’s SEC Media Days will be held in Nashville after spending the last few years in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame. The media days are being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Nashville. ESPN’s SEC Network will cover the entirety of the SEC Media Days.

Hot topics that surely will be asked this week include;

  • How Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M program can get the ball moving in the right direction this fall?
  • Can Georgia repeat as the national championships for a third-straight year? How will Kirby answer questions regarding the program’s off-the-field issues?
  • How does Nick Saban feel about his offense heading into this fall with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees replacing Bill O’Brien?
  • Does Bill Napier feel his program is ready to take the next step on the field this fall after a strong offseason on the recruiting trail?

Finally, there will surely be questions for Josh Hueppel regarding the penalties that the NCAA handed down to Tennessee, including a scholarship reduction.

Here are the rest of the major stories from this past weekend and more from the College Wires.